Lifestyle

Would You Clone Your Pet?

Earlier this year, TLCaired a special documenting animal lovers who had the opportunity to bring a deceased dog back into their life. On May 21st at 10PM ET/PT, they will be airing the second installment examining this controversial practice.

Says the press release, “Now that the procedure to attain an exact clone of a pet dog has become available, the idea that someone can immortalize their furry loved one has become an attainable opportunity – but at a cost.”

The special will follow three people — a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon grief-stricken over the traumatic death of his Chihuahua, a Los Angeles woman still trying to cope with the death of her beloved dog three years ago, and a wealthy Boca Raton couple who were one of the first to clone their pet.

Pets are members of our family, and certainly it is devastating to have them pass away. The idea that we can have our pets with us –alive and tail-wagging—forever is comforting. But is it right?

Cloning a pet is not cheap—the Florida couple in the TLC special paid $155,000. Nor is it without controversy. Some critics argue that pet cloning creates false expectations in people that their new pets will be identical in personality and temperament to their old pets. Others condemn the practice for its part in keeping people from going to a shelter to get a new pet potentially further increasing the numbers of adoptable animals that might have to be euthanized. The HSUS and other animal welfare groups have spoken out against commercial pet cloning.

Supporters of the practice say that it is not inhumane, nor does it contribute to pet homelessness. They view it as an important advancement in veterinary science.

Regardless of your stance on the issue, TLC’s special should prove to be quite interesting!